News From Our District Conservation Technician, Camryn Riddell

Urban Agriculture

This newsletter is called Mesa Conservation Resource Connection, as it connects us to you! One of my personal favorite connections to see is the way that natural resources connect, from animals and wildlife, to water, to plants, to soil, and it goes on and on. Our Resource Connection newsletters will be focused on natural resources. Whether the focus is on water, soil, wildlife, pollinators, air quality, invasive or native species, best conservation practices, specific projects, and more, this newsletter will bring you closer to vital resources and conservation work.

With the summer growing season underway, urban agriculture becomes a way for agriculture to become accessible for those looking to grow their own food!

Support Mesa Conservation District through City Market Community Rewards

Mesa Conservation District is excited to announce that we are now a part of the City Market Community Rewards program. By linking your City Market Community Rewards to MCD by using our organization number, BH872, you can support local conservation efforts every time you shop, at no cost to you! Just use your City Market card as usual, and your purchases will help to support the important work MCD does to support local agriculture in our region. The best part? Participating will not impact your fuel points, discounts, or other rewards. Click the photo below to enroll your shopper’s card today!

Urban Agriculture

Agriculture contributes over $40 billion annually to the state of Colorado’s economy. Western Colorado land holds a strong history and heritage in agriculture. Agriculture is a valuable benefit to not only our local economy, but to a multitude of areas within our local communities. Urban agriculture can be an accessible way for more people in their communities to be involved with fostering those benefits.

Urban agriculture can encompass home gardening, community gardens, urban farming, livestock management- poultry, bees, etc.- and more! Defined as “the cultivation, processing, and distribution of agricultural products in urban and suburban areas”, urban agriculture is greatly beneficial to local communities. According to Feeding America’s annual “Map the Meal Gap” report, approximately 13.7% of Mesa County residents are food insecure, and food insecurity across the Western Slope has increased by 21% since 2019. Urban agriculture is a great approach taken to combat food insecurity and provide greater access to produce, meat, eggs & dairy products. There are many benefits to urban agriculture practices that benefit the entire community.

Beekeeping and supporting pollinators is a valuable approach to urban agriculture as pollinators serve as a resource to the entire community. Pollinators benefit local farms and gardens, create wildlife habitat, expand local biodiversity, and aid native plants. Supporting pollinators can be beekeeping, planting native pollinator plants, or creating pollinator habitat. Other examples of urban agriculture benefits can include stormwater management as improved soil health means better water infiltration into the soil, air quality improvement due to more plant life, and soil remediation when investing efforts into improving soil health.

A great way to incorporate urban agriculture in your community is community gardening. Mesa Conservation District is proud to have been a part of the creation of the Discovery Garden at Mesa County Public Library in Grand Junction, CO. This garden is a great resource for educational programs, nutrition literacy, community connection, experience with a variety of gardening techniques- including xeric, raised bed, in-ground farming, pollinator, seed-saving, and permaculture design- and for community wellness and enjoyment. The Discovery Garden works as a general area for the community to enjoy, volunteer with gardening work, and learn valuable skills. It is a constantly expanding resource, currently incorporating compost demonstration, food plots, a pollinator garden, a children’s garden, and much more! The Seed Library at Mesa County Libraries also serves as a great resource for gardeners in our community.   

Community gardens foster educational opportunities in gardening and agriculture, strengthen community cohesion and relationships, provide greater access to fresh produce, create a healthier environment, and expand community knowledge and experience with gardening. Community gardens can be a great way to practice urban agriculture, with other options including container planting, backyard or rooftop gardening, and pollinator gardens. Some community gardens are set up with reserved plots, while others are designed to have the community collaborate in the garden spaces. Growing Gardens in Boulder, CO provides 7 community garden spaces across Boulder County. Their community gardens and plots provide over 800 people in their community with space to grow food. Community gardeners utilizing this program also contribute extra produce and, on average, donate approximately 1,000 lbs. of fresh produce to the local community annually.

Supporting Local Agriculture

Getting involved with urban agriculture practices is empowering to yourself and the local community. For me, personally, managing my own garden and plants has grown a deeper respect for the hard work done by producers in managing larger scale operations, especially through the weather and water challenges faced in our area. An excellent way to support your community is supporting local agriculture. Farmers markets are in full swing around Western Colorado, and are a great way to connect with farmers, ranchers, and producers in your community! In our district, we have the Grand Junction Farmers Markets on Thursday evenings, Fruita Farmers Markets on Saturdays, and Palisade Farmers Markets on Sundays. Many farms and producers in our area also provide opportunities to learn more about their operations and/ or purchase their products locally. 

Conservation Districts work to provide support, inspiration, and education with urban agriculture. Visit the Resource Hub on our website for more resources on incorporating urban agriculture in your community and managing healthy gardens, including pollinators, soil health, companion planting, soil amendments, local native seed and plant resources, and more! 

On our website, we now have a page highlighting some producers in our district with the conservation practices they follow and the products and services they provide. If you are a producer located in Mesa Conservation District and you would like to be highlighted on our producer page, please email mesaconservationdistrict@gmail.com. 

Local Resource Hub Now Available! Brought to you by the Grand Valley Water Committee

MCD is proud to announce the Resource Hub! Click the button below to learn more about available resources on soil health, irrigation, agribusiness management, weather and climate, ag-informed behavioral health, and much more!

Want to learn more about Mesa Conservation District?

Since 1963, Mesa Conservation District has been your local conservation partner, working hard to support thousands of producers to ensure their sustainability and resiliency in the face of many challenges.

Want to learn more about Mesa Conservation District does for our local community? Check out our website below to learn more about past projects, upcoming events, and available resources:

Mesa Conservation District is dedicated to bringing to our community. You can play a part in these local sustainability and conservation efforts and help conserve our priceless natural resources by making a financial donation of any amount below.

Thank you for your consideration and support!